19th. century Bust of William Ewart Gladstone (1809 – 1898) Bronze William Ewart Gladstone was a British statesman and four-time prime minister of the United Kingdom (1868–74, 1880–85, 1886, 1892–94). Born in 1809, Gladstone was first elected to Parliament in 1832. After serving in different government posts, including as Chancellor of the Exchequer, he first became prime minister in 1868. Gladstone’s legacy includes expanding the vote and reforms in Ireland. He died in 1898 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.